Veron Rd bushland decision deferred

Gosford Council has resolved to defer making a decision on a development application for a retirement village on the corner of Veron Rd and Hillview St, Woy Woy, until several days after the State election.

The development is on land identified as having rare bushland - Umina Coastal Sandplain Bushland recognised as an "endangered ecological community".

Representatives of developers Providence Projects stated at a council meeting on February 13 that they would need "about six weeks" for an arborist report.

Cr Craig Doyle stated that he would be "happy to support the item being returned at the first meeting in March".

Cr Robert Bell asked what would happen when the item came back in March.

"Does that mean council determines the matter whether those issues are addressed or not?" Cr Bell said.

Cr Terri Latella said that if the application was already recommended for approval than "surely the issues are addressed".

Cr Latella also said that she had not attended an informal inspection because of the deferral, but that she was looking at inspecting the site when it came back to council.

After having conversed with the proponents outside the meeting, Cr Jim Macfadyen suggested that the first weeks in March may not be possible for the applicant.

He said six weeks were needed.

The meeting resolved to defer the matter for six weeks at the request of the applicant to allow further information to be provided to address the issues of the deferred commencement.

Council agenda ENV.3, 13 Feb 2007